Calgary paper runs cartoons

[Lotuslander]

Sanch wrote:

Let’s see Islamophobia refers to a hatred of Muslims and an attempt to undermine their world view by publishing cartoons.

Not quite true Islamophobia or arachiphobia etc.. is a fear of something in this case a fear of Islam, not muslims. One could make the case that Islamophobia does equate into a fear of Muslims but, I personally don't think the two are mutually inclusive of one another in this context. The important point is that it is a fear of something or great dislike not hatred and it applies to a religion not individuals.

As for the cartoons I have seen a number of them, though not all, and I don't really see what the big deal is. The only one that I think could be taken the wrong way so to speak is Mohamed with a turban bomb. However, the way things have progressed I think the muslim community is making a mountain out of a molehill. I have read some muslims who have criticised Mohamed being depicted at all (never mind the incendiary head gear)which I don't think is right. If I want to draw a picture of Mohamed why should someone else's religion stop me from doing so and exercising my creative free will? I am an Anglican and the tenants of Islam do not apply to me!

Of course the cartoons were more than just a caricature of Mohamed they implied that Islam was a violent religion. (Studies have been done on this very subject whether some religions are more prone to violence than others.) So I guess the question becomes at some point is that assertion true or is it spreading hatred? If the cartoons are relevant and depicting what is generally accepted at least in popular philosophy as the truth, then the cartoons are merely an expression of what society thinks, a reflection on the Western world's opinion of Islam, albeit with imperfections and misconceptions.

One more contention which some have towards the cartoons is that somehow religion is off limits to political commentary. This is simply a ridiculous notion-which is not only undemocratic and against free speech but, against knowledge or at least the attainment of knowledge itself. Never has religion been off limits nor should it. Religious leaders possess considerable political, moral and ethical power and influence which they often use. The Pope is often criticised for his stance on abortion and the shayks who propogate violence against the America or any other country should be held to account for thier political views. \

As Ghandi put it:

"As soon as we lose the moral basis, we cease to be religious. There is no such thing as religion over-riding morality. Man, for instance, cannot be untruthful, cruel or incontinent and claim to have God on his side."

 

[sanch]

I didn’t invent Islamophobia and there has been no long debate about what it encompasses. I was simply using the concept to convey a general fear that was being conjured up by many about the publication of the cartoons. This I think was intended to give the imagery broader currency than intended by the cartoonists who I believe were satirizing a particular variant of Islam which is very militaristic. Muslims saw this an attack on their very being, a fear of their encroachment in Europe and a challenge to their faith. So they made it inclusive of all Muslims.

Islamic fundamentalism is on the rise and in almost all cases it is very militaristic. It’s a messianic social movement and its objective is to challenge the existing order be it the House of Saud or the global dominance of the US. In the Sudan the expression of this fundamentalism has led to horrific genocide. So militant Islam is very real and not some fiction the cartoonists created.

The problem is how to expose what is happening within militant Islam in a way that does not include more moderate followers. There are different social theaters that include some level of Muslim representation and the influence of the fundamentalists vary from region to region. In the Horn of Africa in Sudan and Somalia there are very militant forms of Islam being practiced. In Egypt Mubarak has called off the election because of the rise of fundamentalism. In Ethiopia the practice of Islam is more benign and confined to religious worship. So should a questioning of the symbols and the way they have been appropriated for global jihad apply to Ethiopia? No but how does one keep this separate.

In Pakistan there are demonstrations over the cartoons and the symbols they are striking out against are US. In Peshawar they’ve burned a KFC and a MacDonald’s. The US has tried to stay out of this affair and no cartoons are being published by US media but it is still a target. The demonstrators are making the affair universal. There is a lot to be gained politically by universalizing the impact of the cartoons and making their publication inclusive of an attack on all Muslims. If you look at the situation in Peshawar and the surrounding tribal lands, the average demonstrator was probably educated in a Madrassa funded by Saudi money and the variant of Islam being taught is one of global jihad and a hatred for infidels. Yet we are not allowed to publish any of this in any form because if we do some Muslim practicing his religion in Ottawa will be offended.

 

[Curiosity]

Government interference

Any government which believes (and leads the people to believe) that they can legislate "thought and morality differences" needs to take a course in human behavior.

It comes down to the government deciding what the people will do and think - that isn't democracy at all.

If people are offended, they would be sorely offended when they are searched for "offensive" material such as a particular religious writing, or membership in a gay organization, or a right to life group, and on it goes.....

Stop giving the government power over your minds please.

Many offenses have taken place in the form of cartoons. The Islamic terrorists are using these as an excuse to riot and frighten the European nations....the same as their ugly bombing attacks last year. The cartoons have gone far beyond their original intent and we in the west have given them power by censorship.

They are thugs - and have no connection to a religious based frame of mind or conduct. If pacific Muslims are offended, let them take action please. I hear none, see none, nor read none other than the scattered musings on the internet or a few printed "quotes" from a muttering Mullah.

Even they are terrified of their insane and violent brothers who have ripped Islam from them and created a monstrous idol.